4170 midterm

What philosophical concept did René Descartes propose?

Mind-body dualism

What is the famous phrase associated with René Descartes?

'I think therefore I am' (cogito ergo sum)

What did Descartes believe about the mind and body?

They are two separately functioning entities.

What philosophical approach did John Locke advocate?

Empiricism

What does the term 'tabula rasa' refer to in Locke's philosophy?

The idea that humans are a blank slate at birth.

What was Locke's goal in his philosophical work?

To find a way for society to function civilly without conflict.

What did David Hartley contribute to the understanding of the nervous system?

He viewed the nervous system as a connection between mind and body.

What is phrenology?

A method of discerning mental abilities by 'reading' the bumps on someone's skull.

Who is known for the doctrine of specific nerve energies?

Johannes Müller

What does the law of conservation of energy state?

Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed.

What is the difference between sensation and perception?

Sensation is raw data from senses; perception is the psychological process influenced by the brain.

What theory did Charles Darwin propose regarding evolution?

Natural selection

What did Darwin's work allow for in psychology?

The study of humans in comparison to other animals (comparative psychology).

Who proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics?

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

What hypothesis did Charles Lyell contribute to Darwin's thoughts?

The uniformitarian hypothesis, suggesting gradual geological processes.

What was one of Darwin's significant works published in 1859?

On the Origin of Species

What did the term 'localization of function' refer to in psychology?

The idea that specific areas of the brain are responsible for specific functions.

What did Paul Broca contribute to the study of the brain?

He studied localization of function related to language.

What did Charles Bell and François Magendie distinguish in their research?

The difference between sensory and motor nerves.

What did Hermann von Helmholtz contribute to psychology?

He made significant contributions including the law of conservation of energy.

What did the experimental studies of Jean-Pierre-Marie Fluorenes focus on?

Specific local functions of the brain.

What did Georg Prochaska and Marshall Hall study?

Unconscious stimuli responses and reflexes.

What was a significant impact of Locke's emphasis on human experience?

It contributed to later developments in psychology.

Who were Lloyd Morgan and Douglas Spalding?

Both were proponents of rigorous scientific animal studies that explored the human connection.

What was Francis Galton known for?

He was Darwin's cousin and was fascinated by human differences through an evolutionary framework.

What were the principal sources of a science of mind?

Philosophical debates, empirical and experimental work in medicine and physiology, and Darwin's evolutionary theory.

What technological changes influenced psychological practices in everyday life?

New technologies, changes in family life, and the psychological consequences of commercial society.

What role did conduct books play in psychological practices?

They were popular devotional aids intended to encourage spiritual reflection and self-control.

What was the Protestant Reformation?

A movement asserting that salvation comes by faith alone, emphasizing a personal relationship with God.

What were three important consequences of the Protestant Reformation?

1. Emphasis on personal relationship with God; 2. Faith reflected in daily life practices; 3. Creation of technologies like conduct books.

How did the Protestant Reformation change individual perception?

It encouraged individuals to look inward and assess their daily lives rather than just their church attendance.

What is the significance of the modern glass mirror?

It provided individuals with a clear view of themselves, enhancing self-perception.

How did letter writing evolve in the 18th and 19th centuries?

It became a means of general communication and self-expression, beyond formal interactions.

What impact did the emergence of the novel have on individuals?

It allowed readers to recognize and understand elements of themselves through characters' experiences.

What invention allowed for the printing of conduct books and novels?

The printing press, invented by Johann Gutenberg in 1439.

What is a commercial society?

A society where relationships are defined by buying, selling, and producing goods.

How did capitalism influence social obligations?

It encouraged a sense of social obligation, as reputation and livelihood were at stake in transactions.

What is the 'invisible hand' concept by Adam Smith?

It indicates that when individuals seek their own interests, the net result benefits the interests of all.

What does 'moral sentiment' refer to in Adam Smith's philosophy?

The principle that human beings need functioning relationships, guiding them to consider community interests.

What was the psychological impact of the commercial society on individuals?

It fostered discipline and order, emphasizing the importance of conscience in maintaining social contracts.

How did the Protestant Reformation shift religious practices?

It reduced the emphasis on church attendance and increased focus on daily personal faith and practices.

What was the role of introspection in the context of the Protestant Reformation?

It facilitated a deeper understanding of oneself and one's relationship with the divine.

What technological advancements changed self-perception in society?

The modern glass mirror and the rise of literacy leading to letter writing and novels.

What is the significance of conduct books in the context of the Protestant Reformation?

They served as tools for individuals to maintain their relationship with the divine and reflect on personal conduct.

How did the rise of literacy affect psychological practices?

Increased literacy led to the popularity of conduct books and personal diaries as tools for self-exploration.

What were the implications of commercial society on human relations?

It changed how people interacted, emphasizing monitoring behavior and creating obligations through transactions.

What was the cultural context of the origins of a science of mind?

It was deeply embedded in the social and cultural context of the times, influenced by philosophical and empirical work.

What notable changes in family life were observed in Western Europe and England at the beginning of the 18th century?

Changes were first seen among the upper and professional classes, followed by the middle class, with a rise in nuclear families.

What is a nuclear family?

A family consisting of parents and children, with close ties to extended family members.

What social changes contributed to the evolution of family life in the 18th century?

Increased emphasis on privacy, intimacy, affection, and child orientation within families.

How did Protestantism influence family life?

It promoted individualism, leading to increased privacy and personal reflection within families.

What was the impact of the Industrial Revolution on family structures?

It led to the mechanization of workplaces, creating new roles and changing family dynamics towards more privacy and intimacy.

What is physiognomy?

An ancient system that claimed a direct link between physical appearance and one's character, popularized by Johann Caspar Lavater.

Who popularized phrenology in the United States?

Johann Gaspar Spurzheim and the Fowler brothers, Orson and Lorenzo.

How did the division of labor affect the workplace?

It created specific roles with well-defined tasks, leading to competition among workers and hierarchical status levels.

What was the significance of Kant's challenge to psychology?

Kant questioned whether the mind could be studied scientifically, building on Descartes' separation of mind and body.

What are the noumenal and phenomenal worlds according to Kant?

The noumenal world is the external reality independent of human experience; the phenomenal world is our internal experience of that reality.

What was the role of introspection in early psychology?

Introspection was a method used to study the mind, but it eventually declined in favor of more objective approaches.

What did William James assert about psychology in 1892?

He stated that psychology should be treated as a natural science.

How did the first Industrial Revolution affect employment?

It created a boom in employment and industrial growth, but also led to job losses due to mechanization.

What was the impact of phrenology on education and self-improvement?

Phrenology was used to assess individual strengths and weaknesses, guiding personal development and educational approaches.

What was the significance of the Phrenological Society?

Founded by George Combe, it promoted phrenology and its application in understanding human behavior.

What shift occurred in family dynamics during the 18th century?

Families became more intimate, with a focus on affection and child orientation rather than practicality.

What was the effect of mechanization on family life?

It led to the development of homes designed for privacy and intimacy, moving away from multi-family households.

How did phrenology influence vocational guidance in America?

It laid the groundwork for modern psychological practices, including vocational guidance and family counseling.

What was the relationship between individualism and family life in the 18th century?

Individualism led to greater emphasis on personal relationships within families, moving away from collective membership.

What was the role of competition in the workplace during the Industrial Revolution?

Workers were viewed based on merit rather than lineage, creating a competitive environment for job positions.

What did Kant believe about human experience?

He believed that human experience is mediated through the mind and senses, preventing direct knowledge of the noumenal world.

What changes in marriage practices were noted in the 18th century?

Marriage began to emphasize romantic love rather than practical arrangements.

What was the societal view of children in families during the 18th century?

Children were shown more affection and became central to family life, focusing on care and individual development.

What was a key realization about the mind in early psychology?

The mind is active rather than passive, and studying this activity is crucial for understanding how it works.

Who emphasized the importance of studying the organizing properties of the mind?

Immanuel Kant

Why did Kant believe psychology could not be studied like other sciences?

Because internal processes lack physical existence, making them unobservable and unmanageable.

What is psychophysics?

A branch of study that involves the physical measurement and quantification of psychological phenomena.

Who was Johann Friederich Herbart and what was his contribution to psychology?

He studied psychology by applying numerical values to psychological experiences, attempting to create a sense of equilibrium between experiences.

What is the Just Noticeable Difference (jnd)?

The smallest increase in physical intensity of a stimulus that can be reliably discriminated as a sensory experience.

Who developed the concept of the Just Noticeable Difference?

Ernst Heinrich Weber and later refined by Gustav Fechner.

What is atomism in the context of psychology?

An approach that involves breaking down subjects into their smallest elements for study, though it was not widely embraced in psychology.

What principle did Lehrfreiheit represent in German universities?

The freedom to teach any topic in any manner without interference from university officials.

What does Lernfreiheit refer to?

The freedom to learn, allowing students to choose their course of study and how they engage with their education.

What is Wissenschaft in the German intellectual tradition?

A way of looking at things scientifically, regardless of the subject matter.

Who is considered the father of scientific psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt

What is experimental introspection?

A method developed by Wundt that standardized the presentation of stimuli for subjects to report their experiences.

What criticism did Wilhelm Dilthey have regarding Wundt's approach?

He believed that the content of the mind was more important than the structure of psychological processes.

What was Théodule Ribot's contribution to psychology?

He developed associationism, positing that complex consciousness arises from elementary sensations through laws of association.

What is positive eugenics?

A practice that encourages the interbreeding of eminent individuals to improve the genetic quality of a population.

What is negative eugenics?

A method of social control that restricts the ability of 'unfit' individuals to procreate.

What was William James's view on the study of psychology?

He believed in a scientific approach to psychology, influenced by his training in physiology and medicine.

What is pragmatism in the context of scientific ideas?

The belief that scientific ideas should be judged by their practical effectiveness and usefulness.

What methods did William James propose for studying psychology?

1. Introspection, 2. Experimentation, and 3. Acknowledgment of the limitations of experimental introspection.

What did William James propose about scientific psychology?

He proposed that the focus should be on uncovering the functions of the mind rather than its contents or structure.

What did James turn to after his frustrations with psychology?

He turned towards philosophy and spiritualism, including psychical phenomena.

What was the anecdotal method in early comparative psychology?

It involved collecting descriptions of animal behavior from various sources to infer the functioning of the animal mind.

Who was the first woman to receive a PhD in psychology at Cornell?

Margaret Floy Washburn.

What did Edward Lee Thorndike study?

He studied reinforcements and punishments in animal behavior, famously using the Thorndike puzzle box.

What did Ivan Pavlov demonstrate through his studies?

He showed how external stimuli can control behavior through Classical Conditioning.

What was John B. Watson's view on introspection?

He was uncomfortable with introspection and believed psychology should focus on observable behavior.

What did behaviorism aim to achieve?

Behaviorism aimed for the prediction and control of behavior, focusing on observable actions rather than introspection.

What was Mary Whiton Calkins' stance on introspection?

She opposed the complete elimination of introspection, believing it still had value in exploring some elements of the mind.

What was the impact of industrialization and urbanization on psychology?

It led to rapid changes in social life and increased specialization in professions, including the emergence of psychologists.